Governor-general: Fake social media accounts aren’t mine

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Governor-General of St. Kitts and Nevis His Excellency Sir S.W. Tapley Seaton G.C.M.G., C.V.O., Q.C., J.P., is urging the general public to beware of fake social media accounts purporting to be him and to reject any invitation from such, including two of the most popular, Facebook and Instagram.

Sir Tapley said that neither he personally nor the office that he presently holds has any social media accounts, especially ones soliciting funds from people.

“I am not into what has been out there—Facebook and all that sort of thing,” he said. “Something has been attributed to the governor-general featuring my photograph indicating that [people] can contribute to some fund of some sort. There is absolutely no basis to it. I think, regrettably, I have to adopt the well-used phrase of “fake news.” There is no basis at all, [and] I want to put that on the record.””

He said that he knows of several of his colleagues in other countries who have had similar cases and “who have had to indicate very clearly that they are not at all connected to that sort of thing.”

Several people in society have been the victims of fake social media accounts, using their their photos and sending friend requests to individuals, especially via Facebook and Instagram. When one accepts, one is asked about contributing to federal government grants and United Nations funds.

The public in the general should be on guard against these phony social media accounts.